Adjustable cyclone separator

ABSTRACT

In a cyclone separator, a valve means adjustable to cause partial by-pass of gaseous fluid and solid particles entrained therein from the separation chamber to the gaseous fluid outlet. Also, means is provided for adjusting the location of the valve means relative to the separation chamber.

I United States Patent 1 3,667,196 Koenecke [45] June 6, 1972 [54]ADJUSTABLE CYCLONE SEPARATOR 798,437 8/ 1905 Morse ..55/415 1,281,23810/1918 Wegner.. [72] Inventor. William J. Koenecke, Glen ROCk, NJ.2,952,330 9/1960 Winslow [73] Assignee: Metal Improvement Company, Inc.3,010,579 1 H1961 Duesling- 2 3,200,568 8/1965 McNeil ..55/459 [22]Filed: Sept. 1, 1970 2 App] N03 68,697 Primary Examiner-Bemard NozickAttorney-Arthur Frederick and Victor D. Behn [52] US. Cl ..55/312,55/357, 55/411,

55/459 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B04c 5/04 [58] Field of Search..55/30931 1, 312-314, In a cyclone separator, a valve means adjustableto cause par- 55/357, 418, 41 1, 459, 460, 393, 417; 209/ 144, tialby-pass of gaseous fluid and solid particles entrained 211; 210/512,120, 130, 304 therein from the separation chamber to the gaseous fluidoutlet. Also, means is provided for adjusting the location of the [56]References Cited valve means relative to the separation chamber.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Clainu, 5 Drawing Figures 438,523 10/1890Bretney ..55/417 PATENT EnJuu 6 m2 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR. Mum/v Mine-(K:

ADJUSTABLE CYCLONE SEPARATOR DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to cyclone type separators and, more particularly, to a cycloneseparator having an adjustable means for varying the separatingeffectiveness of the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In systems wherein the average mass of thesolid particles entrained in the gaseous fluid stream varies, theresultant solid separation will vary. Where, in these systems, therecovery of separated solids is the primary function of the cycloneseparator, rather than obtaining a solids free gaseous fluid stream, thevariation in the mass composition of the separated solids recovered isundesirable. This undesirable variation in the composition of the solidsrecovered in the cyclone separators is particularly disadvantageous inshot peening, recovery and recirculation systems in which the propermass of the recovered shot is essential for the subsequent optimumtreatment of the surfaces of work pieces being peened. One proposedsolution to the problem is controlling the velocity of the gaseousfluid, as for example by adjustment of the speed of the blower orexhauster. However, this latter solution is unsatisfactory since therange of effectiveness is exceedingly limited.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cycloneseparator which is capable of adjustment to disentrain solid particlesof a desired minimum mass from a gaseous fluid stream containing anindiscriminate mixture of solid particles of different masses when themass composition of the entrained particles change.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cycloneseparator which is capable of adjustment to achieve optimum recovery ofentrained solids of a desired mass from a gaseous fluid stream under awide range of mass characteristics of the entrained solids.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cyclone separatorwhich has a relatively simple means for bypassing a portion of thegaseous fluid containing solids below the desired minimum mass to thegaseous fluid outlet before substantially complete separation of theentrained solids from the gaseous fluid.

A feature of the present invention is an adjustable by-pass gateor'valve means controlling a by-pass opening in a centrally located corewhich forms a gaseous fluid outlet conduit and defines with the housinga separation chamber.

Another feature of the present invention is the means for rotativelysupporting and adjusting the core relative to the housing or shell tothereby position the by-pass valve in the separation chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore contemplated by the presentinvention to provide a cyclone separator which comprises a hollow coredisposed within and spaced from a shell or housing to definetherebetween an annular separation chamber. The shell also defines asolids collection chamber located below the separation chamber toreceive disentrained solids. An inlet conduit means is tangentiallyconnected at one end to the annular separation chamber and at theopposite end to a source of gaseous fluid containing entrained solidparticles to receive and discharge the gaseous fluid into the annularseparation chamber. The hollow core forms a gaseous fluid outletpassageway which is open at its lower end and is spaced from the solidscollection chamber to communicate with the annular separation chamberand thereby receive the gaseous fluid from which solids have beenremoved. A gaseous fluid outlet is connected to the core adjacent itsupper portion to conduct gaseous fluid from the outlet conduit and theassembly. The improvement according to this invention comprises aby-pass gate or valve for controlling the flow area of a by-pass openingin the wall of the core which opening communicates the separationchamber with the gaseous fluid outlet passageway. The adjustment of theby-pass valve relative to the mass characteristic of the mixture of thesolid particles entrained in the gaseous fluid stream, bypasses at leasta portion of the gaseous fluid stream containing the particles below aselected minimum mass so that all of the separated solids collected inthe collection chamber are substantially of the desired mass values.

The apparatus may also include means for rotatively supporting andadjusting the core relative to the shell and thereby position theby-pass gate or valve within the separation chamber. This coreadjustment means coacts with adjustment of the by-pass gate valve toprovide a more precise separation of desired mass particles from thegaseous fluid stream than might be achieved only by the adjustment ofthe by-pass valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the cyclone separator according tothis invention with parts broken away for illustrative purposes only;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2,shown on a somewhat enlarged scale and with the by-pass valve in apartially open position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1 and on a somewhat enlarged scale; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the drawings and,more particularly, FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference number 10 generallydesignates the cyclone separator according to this invention. Thecyclone separator comprises a housing or shell 11 which has an uppercylindrical portion 12, a lower, inverted, frusto-conical shaped portion13, forming a solids collection chamber 13A, and an upper, dish shapedportion 14 having a centrally located cylindrical outlet neck portion15. Projecting through the cylindrical neck portion 15 is a hollowcylinder or core 16, the interior of which serves as an outlet conduitor passageway 17. The outer peripheral surface of the core defines withthe interior of the cylindrical portion 12 of shell 11, an annularseparation chamber 18. An inlet conduit 19 is connected to cylindricalportion 12 of shell 1 l to extend tangentially of the latter. The inletconduit 19 is connected at one end to a source (not shown) ofpressurized, gaseous fluid, such as air, in which solid particles, suchas peening shot, are entrained to receive the gaseous fluid and emit thesame into annular separation chamber 18. Connected to the top ofcylindrical neck portion 15 is an outlet cap 20 which is closed at thetop by a wall 21 and has a tangentially extending outlet conduit 22. Theoutlet conduit 22 is connected to discharge the gaseous fluid from whichsolid particles have been disentrained to atmosphere or to a place ofrecovery (not shown).

The cyclone separator 10, as thus far described, is representative of aconventional cyclone separator in which a gaseous fluid, bearingentrained solid particles, is conducted into an annular separationchamber 18, through inlet conduit 19. Since the gaseous fluid and theindiscriminate mixture of solids of difi'erent masses entrained by thegaseous fluid enters the annular separation chamber 18 tangentiallythereof and is guided by the curved walls defining separation chamber18, the admixture is forced to change direction and flow in a circulardirection thereby causing the heavier solid particles to becentrifugally forced, outwardly in a radial direction, toward the innersurface of portion 12 of shell 1 1. As the gaseous fluid flows in adownward helical flow pattern within chamber 18,

more and more of the solid particles are disentrained from the air andfall into collection chamber 13A. The gaseous fluid which has beensubstantially freed of entrained solid particles, passes from separationchamber 18 into outlet passageway 17 and upwardly into outlet cap 20,thence through outlet conduit 22. The separated, solid particlescollected in collection chamber 13A are either continuously orintermittently removed by gravity, through an outlet 13B.

As best shown in FIG. 4 and in accordance with this invention, core 16has a peripheral lip 23 which extends between the juxtaposed annularflanges 24 and 25 on the distal end portions of cap 20 and cylindricalneck portion 15, respectively. A plurality of bolts 26 are disposed toextend through circumferentially spaced registered holes in flanges 24and 25 to provide for clamping lip 23 of core 16 therebetween and, thus,secure core 16 in a predetermined fixed annular position within shell11. To facilitate rotative positioning of core 16, for purposeshereinafter discussed, a handle 16A is secured at one end to lip 23 toproject in a radial direction normal to the longitudinal axis of core 16(see FIGS. 1 and j H Also, according to the present invention, core 16is provided with a by-pass opening or port 27, which communicatesseparation chamber 18 with outlet passageway 17. The flow area ofby-pass opening 27 is controlled by a valve or gate 28 which ispivotally supported on core 16 adjacent opening 27 by a hinge assembly29. The gate 28 is adjustable in an infinite number of positions betweenthe fully closed position shown by full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and afully open position shown by broken lines in FIG. 2. To provide foractuation of by-pass gate 28, an adjustment assembly 30 is provided.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1,2, and 3, adjustment assembly 30 comprises ashaft 31 which extends coaxially within outlet cap and core 16 and isjournalled for rotation in a bearing 32 mounted on wall 21 of outlet cap20. The shaft 31 is held vertically by a collar 33 which is secured tothe shaft by a pin 34 or other suitable means. The collar 33 ispositioned on shaft 3130 that, when the collar abuts the top surface ofbearing 32, shaft 31 is held so that the inner end of shaft 31 lies atabout the vertical, mid-point of by-pass gate 28. An actuating "handle35 issecured to the outer, upper distal end portion of shaft 31. A cranktype linkage assembly interconnects by-pass gate 28 with shaft 31, whichlinkage assembly comprises an arm 36 secured, as by welding or othersuitable means, adjacent the inner end portion to shaft 31 and a link 37which interconnects the free end portion of arm 36 and by-pass gate 28.The link 37 is pivotally connected at one end to arm 36 by a pin 38which is secured to link 37 and projects through a hole in arm 36. Acollar or washer 39 is passed over the pin and a cotter key 40 is passedthrough a diametric hole in pin 39. The opposite end of arm 36 issimilarly pivotally connected to by-pass gate 28 by a pin 41 which issecured to link 37 and extends through a collar or washer 42, the washerbeing secured, as by welding or other suitable means, adjacent the sideedge of by-pass gate 28 opposite from hinge assembly 29 The hingeassembly 29, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a pin 43 whichextends through two spaced collars 44 secured to bypass gate 28 adjacentthe upper and lower edges of the latter. The pin also extends through awasher or collar 45 disposed adjacent to each of the collars 44 andsecured to core 16 by welding or other suitable means. The pin 43 isheld in position by cotter keys 46 which pass through diametric holes inthe pin adjacent collars 44. The hinge assembly 29 is positioned on thedownstreamedge of the by-pass gate, in relation to the direction ofgaseous fluid flow in separation chamber 18, and is connected to gate 28so that the by-pass gate is movable, from the fully closed position,outwardly into the separation chamber and the path of flow of gaseousfluid to thereby deflect part of the gaseous fluid flow into and throughby-pass port 27.

In effecting adjustment of by-pass gate 28, as herein described, handle35 (FIG. 1) is grasped and moved in an arc to thereby rotate shaft 31.Assuming by-pass gate 28 to be closed, as shown in FIG. 2, and it isdesired to open the gate to the fully open position indicated by thebroken lines or an intermediate position such as shown in FIG. 3, handle35 is moved in an'assumed counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.2. This movement of handle 35 effects rotation of shaft 31 which rotatesarm 36 in a counter-clockwise direction and forces link 37 to move tothe left as viewed in FIG. 2. The movement of link 37 causes by-passgate 28 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction about hinge assembly29.

The adjustment of by-pass gate 28 to an open position, as just describedherein, functions to by-pass the undesirable lighter weight entrainedsolids to outlet passageway 17. These lightweight solids, if notby-passed, might otherwise be disentrained and recovered in solidscollection chamber 13A if allowed to fully traverse the separationchamber. The extent to which by-pass gate 28 is required to be opened isdependent upon the velocity of the gaseous fluid in relation to theamount of entrained solid particles and the percentage of solid parti'cles of an undesirable mass present in the total entrained solidsmixture. A further refinement of adjustment in the bypass function ofby-pass gate 28 can be achieved according to another aspect of thisinvention hereinafter described.

As previously set forth, core 16 is constructed and arranged to becapable of rotation relative to shell 11. To permit rotation of core 16,clamping bolts 23 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) are loosened while others areremoved to free the lip 23 of core 16 and release the core 16 forrotative movement to a desired angular position through force applied onhandle 16A. For example, core 16 might be rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2, to position by-pass opening 27 and gate28 closer to inlet conduit 19 so that by-pass of some of the gaseousfluid and entrained solids occurs when separation residence time is lessand the degree of solids separation is less. By combined positionaladjustment of the amount of opening of by-pass gate 28 and the angularlocation of the gate 28 relative to inlet conduit 19 by rotativeadjustment of core 16, a very accurate by-pass function can be achievedto minimize disentrainment of undesirable lightweight particles andminimize the amount of such undesirable solids recovered in the solidscollection chamber 13A.

It is believed now readily apparent that a novel cyclone separator hasbeen described which is capable of being adjusted to substantiallyeliminate from the recovered disentrained solids, solid particles of anundesirable minimum mass. It is a cyclone separator which provides arelatively simple and yet accurate means for by-passing a predeterminedamount of gaseous fluid and entrained solids into the gaseous fluidoutlet.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the inventionis not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: I

1. A cyclone separator comprising:

a. housing means forming a separation chamber therein;

b. inlet conduit means for introducing a gaseous fluid stream containingentrained solids of indiscriminate mass into the separation chamber;

c. an outlet conduit means forming an outlet passageway within theseparation chamber and communicating at one end with the latter toreceive the gaseous fluid stream after substantially complete separationof entrained solids from the gaseous fluid stream;

(1. by-pass port means in the peripheral wall of said outlet conduitmeans communicating the separation chamber and outlet passageway;

e. a gate means cooperating with said by-pass port means for controllingflow through the latter and outwardly moveable from said peripheral wallinto the path of the gaseous fluid stream in the separation chamber fordeflecting a portion of the gaseous fluid stream containing entrainedsolids of undesirable mass through said by pass port means into theoutlet passageway before substantially complete separation of solids andgaseous fluid; and

f. means for moving said gate means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means is provided for rotating theoutlet conduit means about its longitudinal axis to adjust the locationof the by-pass port means with respect to the inlet conduit means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outlet conduit means is ahollow, open ended, cylinder extending centrally of the separationchamber and with the lower open end communicating the outlet passagewaywith the separation chamber and wherein said by-pass port means includesan opening in the wall of the cylinder and said gate means is pivotallyhinged to the cylinder wall adjacent said opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cylinder is supported by thehousing means and rotatively adjustable about its longitudinal axisrelative to the inlet conduit means to thereby provide for locating theby-pass port means within the separation chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the gate means includes an actuatingmeans comprising:

a. a shaft supported by the housing means to extend from a pointexterior of the latter to a point adjacent by-pass port means, and

b. a crank type linkage interconnecting the gate means with the shaft sothat rotation of the shaft about its longitudinal axis effects pivotalmovement of the gate means about said hinged attachment to the cylinderwall.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the housing means includes twocylindrical elements each of which have a first peripheral flangeportion disposed adjacent each other and the cylinder has a secondperipheral flange portion which is clamped between said first peripheralflange portions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cylinder has a handle extendingradially and exteriorly of the housing means to facilitate rotation ofthe cylinder when unclamped.

1. A cyclone separator comprising: a. housing means forming a separationchamber therein; b. inlet conduit means for introducing a gaseous fluidstream containing entrained solids of indiscriminate mass into theseparation chamber; c. an outlet conduit means forming an outletpassageway within the separation chamber and communicating at one endwith the latter to receive the gaseous fluid stream after substantiallycomplete separation of entrained solids from the gaseous fluid stream;d. by-pass port means in the peripheral wall of said outlet conduitmeans communicating the separation chamber and outlet passageway; e. agate means cooperating with said by-pass port means for controlling flowthrough the latter and outwardly moveable from said peripheral wall intothe path of the gaseous fluid stream in the separation chamber fordeflecting a portion of the gaseous fluid stream containing entrainedsolids of undesirable mass through said by-pass port means into theoutlet passageway before substantially complete separation of solids andgaseous fluid; and f. means for moving said gate means.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein means is provided for rotating the outlet conduitmeans about its longitudinal axis to adjust the location of the by-passport means with respect to the inlet conduit means.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said outlet conduit means is a hollow, open ended,cylinder extending centrally of the separation chamber and with thelower open end communicating the outlet passageway with the separationchamber and wherein said by-pass port means includes an opening in thewall of the cylinder and said gate means is pivotally hinged to thecylinder wall adjacent said opening.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 whereinsaid cylinder is supported by the housing means and rotativelyadjustable about its longitudinal axis relative to the inlet conduitmeans to thereby provide for locating the by-pass port means within theseparation chamber.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the gate meansincludes an actuating means comprising: a. a shaft supported by thehousing means to extend from a point exterior of the latter to a pointadjacent by-pass port means, and b. a crank type linkage interconnectingthe gate means with the shaft so that rotation of the shaft about itslongitudinal axis effects pivotal movement of the gate means about saidhinged attachment to the cylinder wall.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3wherein the housing means includes two cylindrical elements each ofwhich have a first peripheral flange portion disposed adjacent eachother and the cylinder has a second peripheral flange portion which isclamped between said first peripheral flange portions.
 7. The apparatusof claim 6 wherein said cylinder has a handle extending radially andexteriorly of the housing means to facilitate rotation of the cylinderwhen unclamped.